Fastener for sanitary napkins and the like



' May 25, 1937.

| STARK 2,081,41U

FASTENER FOR SANITARY NAPKINS AND THE LIKE Filed May 20, 1.936

Patented ay 25, .193?

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE FASTENER FOR SANITARY NAPKINS AND THE LIKE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a fastener for sanitary napkins and the like.

The invention has for an object the construc- 5 tion of a holder which is characterized by a flat body having anopening for a supporting element and a pair of adjacent openings separated by a transverse bar element, and a gripper member associated with the body in a novel fashion.

Still further the invention proposes mounting the gripper element on one side of the body and extendible over the bar element and adapted to clamp the end of the napkin against the bar element.

Still further the invention proposes the provision of a latch element mounted on the other side of the body and coactable with said gripper member to hold-it in proper position.

Another one of the objects of this invention is a construction which permits the gripper mem- 20 her to be removed and replaced so that the holder may be adapted to hold the ends of napkins which are of slightly different thicknesses.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a device as mentioned which is simple and 25 durable and which may be manufactured and 'sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this 'disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a holder associated with a sanitary napkin constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on r the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the holder per se.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 6- 3 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the holder per se.

Fig. 6 is 'aview similar to Fig. 5, but illustrating a'modification of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 'I"I of Fig.6. f

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to Fig. Zillustrating another use of the device.

The holder for sanitary napkins comprises identical devices adapted to hold the ends of a napkin. Each of the devices comp-rises, a fiat body having an opening II at one end for a supporting element I2. This fiat body is also provided with a pair of adjacent openings I3 and I4 which are separated by a transverse bar element I5. A gripper member I6 is hingedly mounted on one side of the body and is extendible over the bar element. A latch element IT is mounted on the other side of the body and is coactable with the gripper element.

The fiat body III is formed from a sheet of stiif material such as composition material or metal. The supporting element I2 comprises a strip of material which may be connected with ones foundation garment or other support, the lower end of which is engaged through the opening II to form a loop I2. Several stitches I8 are engaged through the bar end of the sup porting element I2 to maintain the loop construction. The transverse bar I is integral with the material of the body I0. At its ends I5 it is slightly bent downwards (see particularly Fig. 2) so as to increase the spacebetween the gripping member I5 and the bar. The amount to which this transverse bar is bent downwards depends merely upon the thickness of the end of the napkin with which the device is intended to be used.

The gripper element I 6 comprises a strip of material which has edgeportions Mi bent downwards and formed with teeth or serrations. At one end the gripper member I5 is forked and the fingers Ifi of the fork are bent around the side portion of the body I0 so as to straddle the transverse bar element I5. Thus the gripper element is hingedly mounted, while at the same time it is restrained from moving longitudinally. The

outer end of the gripper member is formed with a curved portion Iii which is adapted to rest against the outer edge of the body l0 remote from the hinge side.

The latch element I6 is formed from a small piece of sheet material which is forked at its inner end and the fingers I! of which are bent around the .side portion of the body Ii) so that the latch element is pivotally supported. This latch element is adapted to engage over the free end I69 of the gripper member in a manner so that this free end passes through the opening between the junctions of the fingers li of the latch element. This is clearly shown in Fig. 4. Thus, the latch element holds the gripper memher in fixed position.

In Figs. 6-8 inclusive a modified form of the invention has been disclosed which is very similar 'to the previous form, distinguishing merely in t e ta t th t it provided with a transverse bar element l5 which is removable and replaceable. The parts which correspond to the identical parts in the previously described form of the invention may be recognized by the identical reference numerals. It should be noted that the side portions of the body ID at the area Where the transverse bar element I5 is located is formed with recessed portions 1. The ends of the transverse bar element l 5 are turned around the reduced side portions of the body l so that the resiliency of the material maintains the position of the bar element. At the same time the recesses Ill prohibit the bar element from sliding along upon the body III. This transverse bar element l has a central portion depressed tola pro-determined amount, as for example, the amount shown in Fig. 7. When it is desired to adapt the holder to napkins having thicker por thinner end portions it is merely necessary to remove the transverse bar element [5 and to replace it with a bar element having a central depressed portion of thedesired depth.

The operation of the device is as follows: A sanitary napkin 20 may be quickly supported at its ends upon the holders in thefollowing manner. The latch element l1 and the gripper member It must first be swung open to the position shown in Fig. 5. Then the end 20 of the napkin is engaged upwards through the opening H and across the transverse-bar element 15. The gripper member IB is pivoted downwards against the end ll) and the latch element I7 is pivoted over the free end of the gripper-member to latch it in position.

In Fig. 9 the supporting strip I2 is wound around the fiat bodyv I 0 and the endltl of the napkin is placed ontop of the covered holder and thereafter locked in position by members l6 and [1, as previously described.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention. it is;to be understood thatI do not limit myself to the precise constructions hereindisclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecu-re .by United States Letters Patent is:-

1. A fastener for sanitary napkins and thelike, comprising a fiat body having anopening for a supporting element and a pair of adjacentopenings separated by a transverse removable bar element adapted to engage recesses in ,thesides of said body to prevent said member from moving laterally, a gripper memberhingedly mounted on one side of said body andextendiblepver said bar element, and a latch element mounted on the other side of said body and C B Ctable .With said gripper member, said removable element-allowing different sized napkins to be used.

2. A fastener forsanitary napkins and thelike, comprising a fiat body having an opening for a supporting element and a pair of adjacent openings separated by a transverse removable bar element adapted to engage recesses in the sides of said body to prevent said member ;from moving laterally a gripper member hingedly mounted on one side of said bodyand extendible over said bar element, and a latch element mounted on the other side of said body andcoactable with said gripper member said removable element allowing different sized napkins to be used, said flat body comprising sheet material stamped with said openings.

3. A fastener for sanitary napkins and the like, comprising a fiat body having an opening for a supporting element and a pair of adjacent openings separated by a transverse bar element, a gripper member hingedly mounted on one side 5 of said body and extendible over said bar element, and a latch element mounted on the other side of said body and coactable with said gripper member, said gripper member comprising a strip of material formed at one end with a fork con- 10 struction, the fingers of which engage around the side portion of said body so as to straddle the end of the transverse bar element, the side portions of said gripper member being bent downwards and formed with serrations, and the free end being provided with a portion adapted to partially encircle the remote side of the flat body.

4. 'A fastener for sanitary napkins and the like, comprising a fiat body having an opening for a supporting element and a pair of adjacent openings separated by a transverse .bar'element, a

gripper member hingedly mounted on one side of said body and extendible over said bar-element, and a latch element mounted on the. other side of said body and coactable with said gripper mem- F her, said latch element comprising a smallsheet of material, one end of which is formed with a fork construction the fingers of which encircle the side of said flat body straddling the end of the transverse bar, said latch element being adapted 130 to pivot over the end of the gripper member'so that the end of the gripper member passes through the junction of said fingers.

5. A fastener for sanitary napkins and the like, comprising a flat body having an opening for 2/ supporting element and an adjacent opening,

a removable and replaceable transverse bar extending across said latter-mentioned opening and having its ends removablyengaging the sides of said body. a gripper member hingedly 40 mounted on one side of said body and extendable over said bar element, and a latch element mounted on the other side of said body and coactable with said gripper member, said transverse bar element having its ends partially turned around the side portions of said body and'resiliently maintaining itself upon the body.

6. A fastener for sanitary napkins and the like, comprising a flat body having an opening for a supporting element and an adjacent opening, a removable and replaceable transverse bar extending across said latter mentioned opening and having its ends removably engaging the sides of said body, a gripper member hingedly mounted on one side of said body and extendible over said bar element, and a latch element mounted on the other side of said body and coactable with said gripper member, said transverse bar element having its ends partially turned around the side portions of said body and resiliently maintaining itself upon the body, the inner ends of said gripper member and said latch element being formed with forked portions the fingers of which encircle the sides of the flat body and straddle the ends of said transverse bar element.

7. A fastener for sanitary napkins and the like, comprising a fiat body having an opening for a supporting element and an adjacent opening, a removable and replaceable transverse bar extending across said latter mentioned opening and having its ends removably engaging the sides of said body, a gripper member hingedly mounted on one side of said body and extendible over said bar element, and a latch element mounted on the other side of said body and coactable with said gripper member, said transverse bar element having its ends partially turned around the side portion of said body and resiliently maintaining itself upon the body, the inner ends of said gripper member and said latch element being formed with forked portions the fingers of which encircle the sides of the flat body and straddle the ends of said transverse bar element, and the side portions of the flat body being formed with recessed portions into which the ends of the transverse bar element engage to hold the latter against shifting.

LUDWIG STARK. 

